The Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program operates from Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College and Mountain Empire Community College.

The partnership came at an optimal time for both aspiring nurses and the medical industry in the region. "There is a high demand for registered nurses in southwest Virginia and east Tennessee. Most hospitals have numerous vacancies, and many are relying on traveling nurses to provide nursing care," says Kathy Mitchell, dean for nursing and allied health at Southwest Virginia Community College.

Old Dominion aims not only to train and prepare nurses, but also to improve health care in Virginia. "We would like to contribute to an increase in BSN degree graduates in that part of the state," says Janice Hawkins, chief academic adviser for ODU's School of Nursing. "An increase in BSN graduates is linked with better patient outcomes."

The program benefits practicing and aspiring nurses who don't want, or are unable, to move from southwest Virginia. "The program allows nurses to pursue a BSN while continuing to live in their communities," Mitchell says. "ODU’s RN to BSN degree program is affordable and accessible to most students in our service area. ODU has an excellent reputation, and our graduates are recognized as being well prepared for the continually changing health care environment."

Old Dominion University, located in the coastal city of Norfolk, is Virginia's entrepreneurial-minded doctoral research university and has been delivering distance learning programs for 30 years. We offer more than 100 programs through ODUOnline in a variety of formats, allowing students to complete degree programs all over the world. ODU serves more than 24,600 students annually by providing the same rigorous academics online and on-campus. Learn more about ODUOnline's programs by visiting online.odu.edu.